http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Miss-M/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Miss M en-us Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:45:29 +0000 Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:45:29 +0000 With only five days left at the orphanage before I leave and back to full strength I'm keen to do as much as I can and tie up all the things I've started.Before going into the orphanage after the new year break I need to get my 30 day permit extended at the Immigration office for my last week in the country. Like most of the office set ups I've seen the administration system is slow and diso http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Malawi/Southern/Blantyre/blog-232342.html As I'm getting used to solids again and tucking into my breakfast toast I am delighted to see a lovely couple I met on my first night at the hostel. They are from the UK but work here for an NGO making education more accessible in the Mulanje district. The couple arrive wanting to see if they can book a room for the night to go out in Blantyre to celebrate new year's eve. They kindly ask if I http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Malawi/Southern/Blantyre/blog-231720.html Well it had to happen at least once ...Sadly it was when I had booked to stay up at Lake Malawi and had to cancel the trip. They say until you visit the lake you haven't been to Malawi I guess that means I'll have to come backI was fortunate to speak with a med student friend from London who was able to diagnose me on the phone and advise me what to do. I'm pretty sure it was the orphanage http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Malawi/Southern/Blantyre/blog-231719.html The last two UK volunteers at the orphanage before me had bought paint and created a wonderful underwater scene along the longest wall in the hall. It is on the wall opposite the entrance so as you walk in it really lifts the environment and stimulates the children. Painted on the wall are sharks fish an octopus and even a mermaid. On one notable occasion I observed one of the primary school http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Malawi/Southern/Blantyre/blog-231718.html Christmas EveEarly on Christmas eve a taxi takes me to the local mountain Mount Mulanje which is about an hour's drive out of Blantyre.As we drive away from the town and the scenery becomes more rural I see how spaced out and separated the rural dwellings are from each other. Children play and adults sit outside at the front of their thatched houses. Life in the countryside looks isolated. http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Malawi/Southern/Blantyre/blog-231717.html I want to experience the Reverend's church service so have arranged for the orphanage driver to take me with him.The service is meant to start at 9.30am but when we arrive at 10am things are just getting going. It is raining outside again so we rush into the small church with its rows of plastic chairs and stage at the front. I am ushered to the third row at the front and sit there alone until http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Malawi/Southern/Blantyre/blog-229779.html When I arrive at the orphanage I discover that no children are here and that today is for the staff to complete things before the holiday. Communication has been tricky at times especially in regard to which days the orphanage will be fully open closed and half open with the feeding programme now that the fund has paid for bags of maize.Skills for work CentreI take the opportunity of this qui http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Malawi/Southern/Blantyre/blog-229777.html The project manager had written up a neatly timed programme but I'm learning that everything here runs to its own drum beat. Just as I thought we were about to start a bigger music system is suddenly hauled in and the men get busy setting it up and pushing bare wires into wall sockets Two mics are positioned at the front of the now beautifully decorated hall the primary children are ready i http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Malawi/Southern/Blantyre/blog-229329.html Once we had finished making up the school bags with the Christmas goods. We started decorating the hall. Tinsel balloons crape papers twisted together steamers and even toilet paper was strung about over string tied across the room.The primary kids sat on the stage area watching everything being put up. I was keen to get the children involved in the preparations and as it's a Christian orp http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Malawi/Southern/Blantyre/blog-229095.html Lazy SundaySunday afternoon was my first feeling of being on holiday as I sat by the bright green hostel pool reading my novel and sunbathing. Yes finally a day of complete sunshine and no rain what blissAt the hostel there is a craft stall with beautiful wooden carvings created by a guy called Godfrey. I met him earlier on in the week when I bought a few pieces of his work. He trained for t http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Malawi/Southern/Blantyre/blog-228328.html I decided to stay in Blantyre for my first weekend in Malawi. It's been difficult to use the services in the town during the week as by the time I finish at the orphanage 4.30pm the internet places are closing as are many of the shops. It's only the mall called 'Shoprite' that remains open longer until about 7 or 8pm but taxi's can be tricky to get from there unless you have taxi phone numbe http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Malawi/Southern/Blantyre/blog-228060.html I had my first cup of tea at the orphanage today and it made all the difference Simple things I plucked up courage to ask the project manager if I could have some of his strong loose tea leaves and borrow his mug they don't have milk in the village although you can get powered stuff. Caffeine at last And there is something so comforting about drinking tea I'm reminding myself about the http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Malawi/Southern/Blantyre/blog-227658.html Each day starts with gorgeous sunshine and by the time the infants lie down on the reed mats for their afternoon nap at 1230 the rain will have been built up to 'beat down' mode. The roof of the hall is corrugated iron and the volume of the rain pelting down is incredible but surprisingly most of the orphans remain sound asleep through it. Thunder and lightning are never far off too. Rain r http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Malawi/Southern/Blantyre/blog-227063.html Today was my second day in the orphanage as I came to the doorway the infants aged 2 12 5 rushed to hug me. They continually push and shove and fight for toys and they hit each other for the chance to grab my hand or sit on my lap. I guess they've been shaped by the harsh world around them and fight for everything they can get. Even bits of broken plastic rubbish are seen as 'toys' to http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Malawi/Southern/Blantyre/blog-226867.html Malawi the warm heart of Africa is known for its friendly hospitable people. And indeed wherever I go I receive a heartfelt welcome. Last night I dined with 5 pastors and their wives at the Reverend's house. There was food aplenty meats peas maize rice potatoes and some coated termites a delicacy which is apparently too good to hang around as they were eaten up before I got to tr http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Malawi/Southern/Blantyre/blog-226581.html Please note this blog is a personal account of my time in Malawi sometimes I will have to write things quickly when I get a chance to be on the internet. I know that family friends colleagues and contacts will be looking at this. I hope not to offend but if anything I say doesn't come across so well please give me the benefit of the doubt my heart is trying to be in the right place. http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Malawi/Southern/Blantyre/blog-226141.html